Does freight really slow down?

I've been in this racket for over 30 years and it does slow down this time of year. As far as security goes, people also need money to buy stuff with. In my town there are no jobs to be had and more layoffs coming

 

Freight slows down when I pump the brakes...mash the throttle...speeds up...

 

In some sectors, yes: freight does slow down. Food shipments, reefer or dry, never really slow down because no matter what the state of the economy is, "ya gotta eat".

I was just at a shipper that deals in small engines and stuff for landscaping applications. Right now, they are extremely busy because orders are going out for springtime, when their customers will start getting busy. Depending on the freight, it does go in cycles. But for the most part, winter is the slow period every year.

 

Food is always moving, yes. Reefer freight is typically the most stable for that very reason. Certain dry commodities are also very stable.

But all the crap that no one really needs slows to a crawl. Which normally hits dry van the hardest.

Another thing that can hurt dry or reefer to some extent is when DCs or stores stock up ahead of time which creates a slowdown in orders while they are dealing with seasonal stock surplus if it dosent get bought.

Tanker and Flatbed have thier own issues. But with both it depends on the sector.

 

As a whole, if you get experience and find a good niche, you can get very reliable and stable pay.

Some drivers and company's simply switch products seasonally.

 

It's not just a seasonal thing related to industry segment, but it's also spread out between "mega carriers" one quarter Swift is up and Schneider is down. Next quarter it flips. Only thing certain in obamaville is nothing is certain.

 

I was hot and heavy into getting my Captains liscence reuped and doing work in the merchant marine area starting 2 years ago.

With the price of oil crashing and there being massive layoffs in the Gulf oil regions I dropped that dream.

But I still follow the merchant marine blogs and forums.

3 months ago 2 of the major shipping companies out of Asia cancelled all outstanding orders for future ships and announced a 20percent layoff and layup of some ships because shipping had slowed so much.

 

^^ I think 2016 is going to be a repeat of 2008, and probably worse given we have no where to go to "boost the economy" following the collapse ... we have been in a recession the last 8 years for all intents and purposes. The phony unemployment numbers [that don't reflect the massive slackers increase] and the fact American Idol is still on has far too many lulled into into a false sense of "security" and the hangover is going to be much worse then 2008. We are in fact probably headed into "The Great Depression" territory, in terms of adjusted numbers and reality. It won't be the same, but it will put many 6-12 years back in terms of position in financial life.

 

In my LTL experience, freight definately slows quite a bit, late oct thru xmas..